THE Public Servants Association (PSA) has lambasted the Minister of Public Service and Administration Senzo Mchunu for saying the public sector union walked out of the wage negotiations.
This comes after Mchunu said on Monday that the PSA, which represented over 200,000 workers in the public service, had been undermining the collective bargaining process under way by making allegations that it was excluded from the facilitation process.
The PSA’s spokesperson Reuben Maleka said the fact of the matter is that the PSA was excluded from the facilitation process after the union declared a dispute.
“The Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council thus excluded the PSA from all processes relating to the current Public Service wage negotiations,” said Maleka.
“The PSA, which represents more than 235 000 public-sector employees, initially participated in the facilitation process with the rest of labour, but later discovered that Government as employer was merely delaying the entire process and no further improved revised offer was forthcoming. The PSA was thus left with no option but to declare a dispute.”
He said afterwards the PSCBC continued with the facilitation process and the PSA was not invited to this process after it had declared a dispute.
“The PSA is, however, of the opinion that it should not have been excluded from the process despite declaring a dispute,” said Maleka.
“The latest offer was presented to all other unions, besides the PSA and SAPU. The PSA, in filing its dispute, will embark in a conciliation process that still entails finding a solution to break the deadlock.”
He said the PSA remains committed to finding a solution to the matter but was, however, not willing to wait for an indefinite period for the demands to be met.
Public servants have not received a salary increase in 2020, despite a collective agreement being in place that should have ensured an increase, said Maleka.
He added that government reneged on its responsibilities in this regard, forcing the PSA to turn to the Constitutional Court where the matter will be heard on August 24.
The union called on Mchunu to respect the PSA’s stance and ensure that accurate information is presented to members of the public.
The PSA also called on the minister to respect the collective bargaining process that is currently taking place at the PSCBC rather than launching incorrect media campaigns.
The government has tabled a revised offer of a 1.5% salary hike and a R978 cash gratuity for a year in a bid to end the stalemate in the public sector wage negotiations.
This after almost three months of deadlocked talks at the Public Sector Co-ordinating Bargaining Council as the state previously insisted on a 0% salary hike and a wage freeze for the next three years — citing a fiscal cliff.
However, labour unions are demanding a salary increase equal to consumer inflation plus four percentage points. They are also demanding a risk allowance of 12% of basic salary because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Inside Politics
